Folding camp table



C. A. DIDRICKSEN FOLDING CAMP ,TABLE Filed April 2l, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet' 1 Juneza, 192s. l 1,543,372

2 Sheeks-Sheiakil 2 C. A. DIDRICKSEN .FOLDING CAMP'TABLE Filed April 21, 1923 June 23, 1925. m

Patented June 23, 1925.

, UNITED STATES CHRISTOPHER ANDREAS DIDRICKSEN, 0F HARVEY, NORTH DAKOTA.

. FOLDING CAMP TABLE.

Application led April 21, 1923. Serial No. 633,678.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER A. DID- RIoKsnN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Harvey, in thecounty of Wells and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Camp Tables; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable other's skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a folding table adapted to be used for camping, picnics, etc. As is well known, it is customary to partake of a lunch on many picnics and as a good many people object to spreading their lunch on the ground, a table is very desirable. necessary by most camping parties. There is a great demand and field of utility for a table which can be collapsed and folded into a small volume so as to be easily transported.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a table which can be extended to, afford quite a large table surface and which also can be collapsed into the form of a suit case for transportation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a device comprising a rectangular case having handles at its upper side and formed of hinged sections adapted to open, to the underside of which ar'e secured extensible legs -foldable therein for transportation and to the outer sides of which case are hinged extensible sections.

It is also an object of the invention to provide such a. device comprising foldable and extensible sections and legs, together with simple and efficient means for holding the same in folded and in extended position.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will. more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views, and in which Fig. 1 is a view inside elevation of the device in collapsed condition;

Fig.2 is a view in end elevation of the device, as seen from the right of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the device with the sides of the case opened out and the legs in extended position;

The table is also considered Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the table in completely extended position; and

Fig. 5 is a viewv in side elevation of the completely extended table, a small portion thereof beingshown in section.

vReferring to the drawings, the device comprises va lcase of rectangular Vshape open sided rectangular box having the bottom sides 1, the longitudinal sides 2 and 3 and the end walls 4. The side and end walls 2, 3 and 4 are set in a short distance from the edges of the bottom wall or sides 1 and the latter are hinged at spaced points on their longitudinal edges by hinges 11 to the edges of a strip or member 5 of the same length as the member 1. Each portion 1 has hinged thereto at spaced points along its end edges, flat sections 6. While these sections may be of any desired length, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, they are show n as of approximately half the length of the sides 1 and are of the same width as the sides v1. The member 5 also has hinged at spaced points along its end edges, flat sections 7 which, while the same will be of any desired length, are, as illustrated, also Vapproximately half the length of the member 5. The hinges 8 connecting the members 6 and 7 with the members 1 and 5 are, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, disposed on the outside of said members. The sections 6 can therefore be folded against the sides of members 1 and the sections 7 can be folded aga-inst the flat surface of the member 5. The sections 6 and 7 are each provided at their outer corners with a hook 9 and headed pin or scr'ew 10, respectively. When these sections are foldformed of two sections, each comprising an ed in flat condition fon the members to which they are hinged, the hooks 9 cooperatewith the pin on the alined section hinged to the opposite end of the members 1 and 5 and when the sections are extended, as shown in Fig. 4, the hooks 9 co-operate with the pin at the corner of the adjacent lateral section. It will be noted that since the hinges 8 are on the exterior of the members 1 andy 5 and 6 and 7, that these sections will retain their extended position, as shown in Fig. 5, ydue to the engagement of their' edges.

Legs 12 are hinged to thevinner surfaces of the members 1 by hinges 13 at points adjacent the end walls 4 so that when said legs are extended to a position perpendicular to the inner. surface of the members 1,

the legs will substantially contact with said end walls. Each leg 12 has an extension 14 hingedly secured thereto by a hinge 15 and said extensions are held rigidly in extendedposition by hook members 16 secured thereto and arranged to snugly engage over a headed pin or screw 17 on the leg 12. The legs 12 also carry adjacent their upper end, hook members 18 pivoted thereto adapted to engage in eyelets 19 secured in the end walls ll whereby the legs are rigidly held in extended position. is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the extensions 1l are adapted to fold onto the legs 12' and then both members are adapted to fold intothe box,-between the side and end walls 2, 3 and l.

When the table is in extended position, as shown in Fig. 5, it is necessary to have some means tosupport the sides 1 and prevent the sameI from swinging down about the hinged pivots or hinges 11. For this purpose, the side walls 3 are provided with slots in their edges which contact the members 1 and a fiat member 20, preferably having a wearing strip 21 secured thereto is adapted snugly to fit in said slots and extend across the members 5 in contact therewith and the inner side of the members 1. The members 1 are thus held rigidly in extended position. rlhe end of the wearing strip 21 may be bent downwardly, as shown at 22, toV provide a suitable lingerpiece or handle for withdrawing the member 20. rl`he side members 2 are provided at i their outer sides with bail handles 23 preferably of stra-p form of the usual construction and when the case is in closed position, as shown in Fig. 2, these handles are adjacent each other and can simultaneously be grasped to carryv the device.

From the above description it is thought the operation of the device will be apparent but the same may be summarized as follows.

W' hen the table is to be extended, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5 the legs 12 are swung to their extended position andthe hooks 181 engaged with the` eyelets 19 and' the extensions' lil also swung toV their extended positions and the hooks and pins, 1G and 17 engaged. The member 20 is now slid into place, as shown in Fig. 3, and tightly engages the side walls 3 as well as the inner surface of the members land The table can now be inverted'. to they position shown in Fig. 5 and the sections 6 and 7 swung outwardly. Preferably the hooks 9 are engaged with the adjacent pins 10, thus connecting the outer portions of the sections G and 7. rfhe table is now extendedand is in very rigid condition and will form a strong and serviceable table for the purpose to which it may be desired to use the same. When the table is to be transported, the sections 6 and 7 will be disconnected by swinging the hooks 9 and the same will be folded fiat onto the members 1 and 5. The table can now be turned on its side or inverted', as shown in Fig. 3, the leg extensions unhooked, asl well as the legs 12 and' the same folded together and folded down into the case, as shown in Fig. 3. The sections 6 will now be hooked together, as will also the sections 7 and the case can be closed up and carried by the handles 28. The members 20 can usually be carried in the case at the sides of the hinges 12 and it will be noted there will be considerable room in the case for other articles which it may be cesired to use in the camping or picni'cing trip.

From the above description it is seen' that applicant has provided a very simple and eHi-cient collapsible andl extensible table. They table can also be madey of standard material and whiley it is inexpensive, it is, nevertheless, strong and durable; The table canbe made of wood, metal or any other desired material which may bey finished or embellished as desired.

It will, of course, be understood that, various' changes may be made in the form, details and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of applicant-s invention, which, generally stated, consists in a device capable of attaining the objects above enumerated, andI such as set forth and described and defined in the appended claims;

What is claimed is:

41l. An extension table comprising opensided rectangular boxes, the bottom of each box being hinged along one side edge to one side edge of a strip of like length, said bottoms and strip having hinged toL opposite:

end edges thereof sections adapted to fold out flush with. the outer surfaces of said bottoms and `strip to form a liat surface, and collapsible legs secured' to the inner side of said bottoms and` adapted to be disposed therein and collapsed, said boxes having a depth equal to substantially half the width of said strip so as to foldI together thereon to form a closed case and the adjacent sides of said boxes having slots in theirV edges adjacent said bottoms and a plate adapted to be disposed across said strip and snugly fit in said slots so as to engage the inner surfaces of said. bottoms to hold the same and said strip in extended position.

2. An extension table comprising opensided rectangular boxes, the bottom of each box being hinged along one side edge to one side edge of a strip of like length, said bottoms and strip having hinged to opposite end edges thereof sections adapted to fold out flushV with the outer surfaces of said bottoms and strip to form a `flat surface, collapsible legs secured tothe innerside of said bottoms and adaptedy to be disposed: therein and collapsed, said boxes. having a depth equal to substantially half the Width of said strip so as to fold together thereon to form a closed case, and a pin and a hook disposed adjacent the outer corners respectively olf said sections, said hook when the sections are extended being adapted to hook over the pin on the laterally adjacent section7 and When the sections are folded, to hook over the pin of the alined sections hinged to the opposite end of the box.

3. 'An extension table comprising opensided rectangular boxes, the bottom of each boX being hinged along one side edge to one side edge of a strip of like lenglh, said bottoms and strip having hinged at the opposite end edges thereof, sections adapted to fold out flush with the outer surfaces or" said bottoms and strip to form a iat surface, said boxes having a depth equal to substantially half the Width of said strip so as to fold together thereon to form a closed case, and fastening means on said sections adapted to engage and connect adjacent sections When the sections are extended and also to engage and connect adjacent sections when the tableis collapsed.

In testimony whereof I a'X my signature.

CHRISTOPHER ANDREAS DIDRICKSEN. 

